Flame-producing mechanism



May 24, 1938. v. ARoNsoN l *2,118,592

FLAME PRODUGING MECHANISM Filed oct. 11, 1954 @nur INVENTOR louis /ronson .(52 BY M, 9- M ATTOR EYS Patented May 24, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLAME-PRODUCING MECHAN I SM Sey Application October 11, 1934, Serial No. 747,855

11 Claims.

My invention relates to flame-producing mechanism operable by manual action to ignite a charge of fuel carried by a torch-forming memloer, or the like.

In an important aspect, my invention relates to flame-producing mechanism which is efcient, simple from the mechanical viewpoint, and readily operable for the intended purpose.

In another important aspect, my invention has reference to a novel and advantageous arrangement for securing the various parts of the aforesaid mechanism in assembled relation.

Various other objects, advantages and characteristics of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

My invention resides in the flame-producing mechanism, pyrophoric lighting mechanism, features and arrangements of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an understanding of my invention and for an illustration of one of the many forms thereof, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly broken away, showing various parts of my novel mechanism in disassembled relation;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, of my novel mechanism with thev various parts in assembled relation;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, partly in plan, and is taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, partly in plan,and is taken on the lined-4 of Fig. 1.

As shown on the drawing, the herein described mechanism comprises a frame arrangement formed from upper and lower plates I and 2, the upper plate I terminating in a peripheral, depending ange Ia. For the purpose of holding these two plates in xed, parallel relation with respect to each other, a plurality of sleeves or rods 3 may be disposed vertically therebetween, these sleeves or rods being secured to the respective plates by screws 4.

Suitably secured to the upper surface of the plate I is a housing 5 which comprises spaced vertical walls in which a horizontal supporting member 6 is anchored. Rotatably disposed on this member E are the side-by-side wheels 1 and 8, the wheel 1 being roughened or serrated on its peripheral surfaces and the wheel 8 being a ratchet wheel, these two wheels being secured together in any suitable manner so as to be rotatable together as a unit. Ccactable with the serrated wheel 1 is a pyrophoric element 9 which is carried by and projects from the upper end of a tube I0 extending downwardly through the plates I, 2 and being secured thereto in any suitable manner. Disposed interiorly of the tube I ii is a helical spring II which is maintained under compression by a cap member I2 threaded into the lower end of said tube I0, the spring II engaging the pyrophoric element 9 and holding the same in engagement with the serrated wheel 'I.

As clearly appears from a consideration of Figs. 1 and 4, the lower plateA 2 comprises a pair of spaced, upstanding bracket arms 2a which support a horizontal member I3. A lever I4 is freely oscillatory on the member I3 and this lever` is biased in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, by a spring Mc which is coiled around said member I3. The upper section Illa of said lever I4 extends through a slot in the upper plate I, the upper end of said lever section I 4a, having pivoted thereto a ratchet bar I5 which is biased in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, by a spring I6 whereby the ratchet teeth on the bar I5 are held in engagement with the ratchet teeth of the Wheel 8.

The lower lever section I4b of the aforesaid lever, immediately adjacent its extreme end, carries a transverse member II which extends through a member I8 slidably disposed interiorly of a sleeve I9 mounted for vertical reciprocatory movement in an opening formed in the aforesaid plate I. As is clearly shown on the drawing, the member I8 is of substantially less length than the member I9 so that a helical spring 2l) may be disposed in the sleeve I9 between the upper end thereof and the upper surface of said member I8. Further, as clearly indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the sleeve I9 is provided with oppositely disposed elongated slots through which the transverse member II extends so that there may be relative .movement of the sleeve I9 with respect to the lever section Mh while the latter remains stationary.

The aforesaid lever section Mb carries a transversely extending latch pin 2| with which is adapted to engage the upper notched end of a lever section 22a, the body of which is pivoted at 23 to an upstanding ear of the lower plate 2. This lever is suitably biased in a clockwise direction, as by a spring 24, one end of which engages the lower lever section 22h to which at one end is pivoted a rod 25 which extends upwardly through the upper plate I.

The aforesaid sleeve I9 terminates above the upper plate I in a cap-shaped member lila. provided with a centrally-disposed upwardly facing depression ISU. As hereinafter described, the flange of the cap-shaped member 15a, upon depression thereof, is adapted to engage and thrust downwardly the rod 25 whereby the notched up per end of the lever section 22a is swung in a counter-clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 1.

For operating the sleeve i9 in the manner described, there is provided a torch-forming member T which comprises a stem 2G carrying a lower fixed sleeve 21 provided with one or more openings 21a which expose sections of a wick 28 axlally disposed in said stem 26 and the sleeve 21. The torch-forming member T further comprises a handle section 29 below which is disposed a bearing section 30 utilizable as hereinafter described.

In accordance with my invention, there is pro vided a fuel casing F which comprises a receptacle 3| formed from sheet material to which is secured a lower weighted rim section 32. As shown, the receptacle 3I contains a mass of absorbent material 33 and the fuel may be introduced thereinto through any suitable opening such as the one closed by the closure cap 34. Further, as shown, the receptacle 3l is provided with a vertical passage as defined by a tubular member 35 into which the lower end of the aforesaid tube ID is adapted to extend. Still further, the fuel casing F carries an upstanding tubular member 36 which defines a vertical passage communicating with the interior of the receptacle 3I as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

As shown on the drawing, M represents the main casing or the casing for the above described mechanism carried by the plates I and 2. In the example illustrated, this casing is nothing other than a rectangular shell open at the top and bottom thereof, the interior dimensions thereof corresponding in configuration with and being only slightly larger than the above described lower plate 2.

To assemble the device herein disclosed, the above described frame arrangement is so moved that the lower plate 2 enters and passes almost entirely through the casing M, the upper plate I and its flange Ia seating upon and around the upper edge of said casing M. While thus held, these parts are brought into assembled relation with respect to the fuel casing F.

As indicated on the drawing, each of the plates I and 2 is provided with an opening, these openings being vertically alined and of such diameter that the upstanding tubular member 36 of the fuel casing F may readily pass therethrough. Accordingly, the casing M may readily be seated upon the fuel casing F after the former has been associated with the frame arrangement comprising the plates I and 2 as described above. As shown in Fig. 4, the upper surface of the fuel casing comprises a pair of spaced, upstanding lugs 31 upon which one end of the lower plate 2 seats, these lugs being suitably positioned So that they serve to locate the casing M when it is seated on the fuel casing F.

When the parts have been assembled as described above, they are positioned substantially as illustrated in Fig. 2. As will be noted, the lower end of the tube I0 is received in the passage defined by the tubular member 35 and the tubular member 36 extends upwardly through the vertically alined openings of the plates I and 2, said member 36 terminating above the plate I in a scr! `v'threaded section which has a nut 38 thrii fidel' thereto.

A particular feature of the invention resides in the provision of an arrangement of the character last described. The single nut 38, When threaded to its lowermost position on the tubular member 3S, holds the frame plate I in close engagement with the upper surface of the casing M. Accordingly, it results that said casing M together with the frame arrangement comprising the plates I and 2 are securely and firmly anchored on the fuel casing F, one end of the lower plate 2 seating upon the lugs 31 and the other end thereof engaging the lower surface of the tubular member 36. The parts when thus anchored in position are in condition for manual operation in the manner hereinafter described.

Obviously, an arrangement of the character described is particularly advantageous from the manufacturing viewpoint. The various mechanical parts may readily be assembled on the open frame comprising the plates I and 2 and this assemblage may subsequently be disposed interiorly of its enclosing casing and secured to its supporting base in the manner described above. Furthermore, when once assembled, the mechanism may readily be disassembled, should the occasion arise, merely by removal of the single nut 38.

As shown in Fig. 2, the hereinbefore described torch-forming member T is supported by the tubular member 36. That is, the bearing section 30 of said member T engages and forms a sealed joint with the upper interior surface of the tubular member 36, and the stem 25 together with the sleeve 21 thereof extend downwardly within said member 36. The sleeve 21 of the torch-forming member T is received interiorly of the fuel casing F with the wick 28 in fueltransferring relation with respect to the fuel therein and, if desired, it shall be understood that the fuel casing may contain a tubular structure which receives the sleeve 21 such, for example, as disclosed in my pending application Serial No. 719,640, filed April 9, 1934.

The operation is as follows:

The various parts carried by the frame arrangement comprising the plates I and 2 are shown in their normal respective positions at the upper part of Fig. l. When the lighting mechanism is to be operated, the torch-forming member T is removed from its holder which is constituted by the tubular member 36 and the lower end of said member T is seated in the depression I9b of the sleeve I9. In response to downward thrusting movement imparted to said member T, the sleeve IS is caused to partake of similar downward movement whereby the spring 2G is compressed. This compressing action necessarily happens, at this time, because the lever i4 is locked in the position shown in Fig. 1 by the latching lever 22a, 22b and, accordingly, the member I8 remains stationary during initial downward movement of the sleeve IS.

Eventually, during continu-ed downward movement of the aforesaid sleeve i9, the flange Isa thereof engages the rod 25 to thereby impart counter-clockwise movement, Fig. 1, to the lever 22a, 22h. By this action, the notched end of said last named lever is disengaged from the pin 2i. When this happens, the lever l@ becomes free to swing in a counter-clockwise direction from its position shown in Fig. l to that shown in Fig. 2 and said lever I4 immediately swings in such counter-clockwise direction under the iniiucnce of the energy stored in the spring 2li which eX- pands suddenly when the lever I4 is released as just described; In response toi such counterclockwise movement of the `lever I4, a step of rotative movement is imparted to the wheels 'I and 8f, .the wheel I coaoting with the pyrophoric element 9 to produce a vshower of sparks which pass through the adjacent open side yof the housing 5, and then toward and above the cap-shaped memberl i921 of the sleeve I9. Inasmuch'as the lower end of the torch-'forming member is held in engagement with said cap-'shaped member I9a at this time, it follows that the vfuel Acarried by the exposed sections of the wick 28 is ignited by the 'sparks to thereby produce a freely burning 'flame at the lower 'en'dof said member T. This member 'may now be removed from the sleeve I9 and usedvfor any desired igniting purpose such, for example, as the ignition of pipes, cigarettes, candles, etc., etc.

` `Whenthe'member T is removed from the sleeve I Sasjust stated., thespring IIIe, which was placed under tensionby the vexpansion of 'spring 2Q, becomesfeife'ctive to restore the various parts to their norinal,respective positions. That is, said spring Id'c swings the lever I4 in a clockwise direction from the position thereof shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 1 to thereby cause the sleeve I9 to move upwardly to the positionshown in Fig. 1. During such movement of the lever III, the ratchet bar I5 moves from left to right with respect to the ratchet wheel 8, the teeth thereof idling with respect to the ratchet teeth of said wheel 8 which remains stationary at this time due to the thrusting engagement of pyrophoric element S with the wheel 1. When the lever IA reaches its normal position as shown in Fig. l, the spring 24 becomes effective to swing the lever 22a, 22h in a clockwise direction from its position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. l whereby the notched end of the lever section 22a becomes reengaged with the latching pin 2 I The parts are now in their normal positions ready for subsequent operation.

After the name at the lower end of the torchforming member T has served its intended purpose, the flame may be extinguished and said member T restored to its normal position as shown in Fig. 2.

While the invention has been described with respect to a certain particular preferred example which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In pyrophoric lighting mechanism, a fuel casing, a main casing, and a mechanical operating assembly comprising a serrated member and a pyrophoric element coactable therewith said fuel casing detachably supporting said main casing and said operating assembly said operating assembly being detachable as a unit from said main casing, said operating assembly coacting with said main casing to retain it on said fuel casing.

2. In pyrophoric lighting mechanism, a fuel casing, a main casing, a mechanical operating assembly, said fuel casing detachably supporting said main casing and said operating assembly, said fuel casing comprising a member extending upwardly through said main casing, and means coactable with said member for retaining said fuel casing, said main casing and said operating assembly in assembled relation, said operating assembly comprising means which engage said main casing vand prevent movement thereof with respect to said fuel casing when said fuel casing, said main casing and said operating assembly are thus heldin assembled relation.

`3. In pyrophoric lighting mechanism, a fuel casing, a main casing, a mechanical operating asscmbly, said fuel casing detachably supporting said main casing 4and said operating assembly, said fuel casing comprising. a member extending upwardly through said main casing, and means coactable with said member for retaining said fuel casing, said main casing and said operating assembly in assembled relation, said means comprising a single nut cletachably threaded to said member for the purpose described, said mechanical operating assembly comprising means which engage said main casing and prevent movement thereof with respect to said fuel casing when said fuel casing, said main casing and said operating assembly are thus held in assembled relation.

4. In pyrophoric lighting mechanism, a fuel casing, a main casing, a mechanical operating assembly comprising a sparking unit said fuel casing supporting said main casing and said operating assembly being detachably supported on said main casing, said fuel casing comprising a member extending upwardly through said main casing, and means coactable with said member for retaining said operating assembly and said main casing in assembled relation, said member being tubular and adapted to receive a torch utilizable for actuating said sparking unit.

5. In pyrophoric lighting mechanism, a fuel casing, a main casing, a mechanical operating assembly, said fuel casing supporting said main casing and said operating assembly being detachably supported on said main casing, said fuel casing comprising a tubular member extending upwardly through said main casing, and means coactable with said member for retaining said operating assembly and said main casing in assembled relation, said tubular member serving as a holder within which is received the torch arrangement of said lighting mechanism.

6. In pyrophoric lighting mechanism, a fuel casing, a main casing positioned on said fuel casing, a mechanical operating assembly disposed within said main casing, said mechanical operating assembly being detachable as a unit from said fuel casing and said main casing, said mechanical operating assembly comprising a frame, a spark-producing unit carried by said frame, a lever interiorly of said frame for actuating said unit, and a member carried for vertical reciprocatory movement by said frame for operating said lever.

'7. In pyrophoric lighting mechanism, a fuel casing, a main casing positioned on said fuel casing, a mechanical operating assembly disposed within said main casing, said mechanical operating assembly being detachable as a unit from said fuel casing and said main casing, said mechanical operating assembly comprising a frame, a sparkproducing unit carried by said frame, a lever interiorly of said frame for actuating said unit, a member carried for Vertical reciprocatorymovement by said frame for operating said lever,` a latch pivoted to said frame for controlling movement of said member, and a member slidable in said frame for operating said lever.

8. In pyrophoric lighting mechanism, a fuel casing, a main casing positioned on said fuel casing, a mechanical operating assembly disposed within said main casing, said mechanical operating assembly being detachable as a unit from said fuel casing and said main casing, means for retaining said fuel casing, said main casing and said mechanical operating assembly in assembled relation, and means for preventing movement of said main casing with respect to said fuel casing.

9. In pyrophoric lighting mechanism, a fuel casing, a main casing positioned on said fuel casing, said main casing being a shell formed from sheet material and being open at the respective opposite ends thereof, a mechanical operating assembly disposed within said main casing, said mechanical operating assembly being detachable as a unit from said fuel casing and said main casing, means for retaining said fuel casing, said main casing and said mechanical operating assembly in assembled relation, and means for preventing movement of said main casing with respect to said fuel casing.

10. In pyrophoric lighting mechanism, a fuel casing having a passage extending vertically therethrough, a main casing positioned on said fuel casing, a mechanical operating assembly disposed Within said main casing, a spark-producing unit associated with said mechanical operating assembly and comprising a pyrophoric metal tube extending downwardly through said passage,

said mechanical operating assemblybeingdetachable as a unit from said fuel casing and said main casing, means for retaining said fuel casing, said main casing and said mechanical operating assembly in assembled relation, and means for preventing movement of said main casing with respect to said fuel casing.

11. A lighter construction, comprising a base portion embodying a fuel container, a casing thereon, a cover member for said casing, a pyrophoric sparking mechanism assembly mounted on said cover member, tubular means fixed to said fuel container and extending upwardly therefrom within said casing and through said cover member, said tubular means comprising a conduit for introducing fuel into said container, means at the top of said tubular means for removably retaining said cover member with the mechanism thereon as well as said casing, in assembled relationship with said base portion, and a removable torch member adapted to be received in said tubular means, said torch member having a wick portion at its lower end adapted to absorb fuel from said fuel container, said torch being removable for application to said mechanism to operate the latter for ignition of said wick portion.

LOUIS V. ARONSON. 

